Health Insurance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in his Department have private health insurance provided as part of their employment package.

Shaun Woodward: No staff employed within the Northern Ireland Office has private health insurance provided as part of their employment package.

Lighting: Waste Disposal

David Davies: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what guidance has been issued on procedures for  (a) cleaning up and  (b) disposing of environmentally-friendly light bulbs which have been broken.

Nick Harvey: The instructions are that the cleaning operative, using protective gloves and wearing a mask, should collect the main fragments of the light bulb and carefully place these into a sturdy box. All splinters should then be collected using stiff card or paper. The area should then be cleaned using a damp cloth. The splinters and the cloth should also be placed into the box. Once the area is clear and clean, the box should be sealed and labelled with details of the item. The box should then be taken to the waste removal area in the loading bay and passed to the waste disposal contractor for disposal in an appropriate manner.

Bristol International Airport

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expansion plans her Department has for Bristol International Airport; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government's 2003 White Paper "The Future of Air Transport" recognises provision of additional airport capacity as a key driver to generating regional growth and investment, whilst at the same time taking account of the environmental impacts of air travel. Within this context airport operators were invited to publish master plans setting out future development proposals.
	Bristol International Airport published a master plan in late 2006 setting out detailed medium-term development plans, including expansion of the existing terminal building. Ultimately, it will be for the airport's operator to bring forward development proposals for consideration through the planning system in the normal way.

Railway Stations: Security

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Prime Minister's statement of 14 November 2007,  Official Report, column 667, on national security, what plans her Department has to improve security at  (a) overground and  (b) London Underground railway stations.

Tom Harris: holding answer 26 November 2007
	The Department for Transport already has in place a range of measures to protect our railway systems. Plans to improve on these measures are being worked through with the railway industry with the aim of ensuring a regime which is proportionate and effective while still allowing people to go about their day-to-day business.
	My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister's statement mentioned two specific projects which will build on the measures already in place to protect the rail and underground networks from terrorist attacks: passenger screening and physical protection against vehicle bomb attacks.
	 Passenger Screening
	Last year, the Department for Transport undertook a number of trials at London Underground and National Rail stations, to test the effectiveness of passenger screening equipment and explosives sniffer dogs in an operational environment.
	The department is planning with the British Transport Police (BTP) and other stakeholders how we might increase and improve the screening of passengers and bags, in the light of the evidence from these trials and elsewhere. The aim of such passenger screening would be threefold: deterrence, detection and public reassurance.
	We anticipate that this would involve the flexible deployment of dogs and/or portable screening equipment by BTP across the rail network, with a focus on the busiest stations, both overground and London Underground. The exact locations and timing of these deployments would be an operational decision for the British Transport Police.
	 Physical protection of stations
	There are already security measures in place at major railway stations to control normal vehicle access, such as deliveries and staff parking.
	Permanent physical vehicle restraints have been installed at the recently-refurbished St. Pancras International station, from which Eurostar now operates. There are agreements in place for similar measures at other key overground and London Underground stations that will be undergoing major redevelopments as part of 'designing in' security. For other significant stations, programmes of work are under active consideration.

Military Attaches

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been undertaken to assess the impact on UK defence sales of the reduction in the number of defence attaches assigned to UK embassies and overseas missions.

Bob Ainsworth: The role of defence attachés is principally to promote the Government's policies in the area of international security co-operation and to give support to current or potential UK operational commitments. Therefore, most defence attachés spend a small proportion of time dealing with defence exports. There are separate staff employed in UK embassies to promote defence exports, where it is necessary. We do not expect an adverse impact on defence sales arising from the redeployment of defence attachés.

Sudan

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the  (a) annual income per household,  (b) global acute malnutrition rate,  (c) literacy rate and  (d) life expectancy in each state in Sudan.

Shahid Malik: As there has not been a household budget survey in Sudan since 1978, there are no up to date estimates of annual income per household. However, gross national product (GNP) per capita in 2006 was estimated to equal US$ 970. Given that the average household consists of six people, GNP per household can be estimated to be around US$ 5800.
	Global acute malnutrition rates in Sudan vary significantly by region, year and season and it is not easy to give an average rate for the whole country. Due to conflict and poor harvests, some areas of Sudan have global acute malnutrition rates well above the emergency threshold of 15 per cent. during the hungry season with, for example, parts of Darfur having rates among children under five of 30-40 per cent . Using an alternative measure of malnutrition, the 2006 household health survey revealed that 31 per cent. of all children under five in Sudan were moderately underweight, while 9.4 per cent. were severely underweight.
	In 2000, which is the latest year available, the literacy rate in Sudan was 61 per cent. For the whole of Sudan, average life expectancy at birth was 57 years in 2005. Figures per state are not available.

Post Offices: Closures

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the remaining post offices can accommodate greater numbers of customers as part of the Post Office closure programme.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Postal Services

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to his oral answer of 22 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1328, on postal services, what precedents there are for consultations to be suspended in advance of local elections.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 27 November 2007
	Cabinet Office guidelines clearly state that consultations, and decisions relating to them, should not be launched in an election period. Successive administrations of both parties have observed these arrangements for many years.

Animal Experiments

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) genetically modified animals and  (b) animals with a harmful genetic defect were used in regulated procedures conducted in Scotland under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2006.

Meg Hillier: Comprehensive statistics of scientific procedures on living animals in Great Britain carried out under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are published annually. Copies of the publication for 2006 (Cm 7153) can be found in the House Library.
	The data are not collected, stored or presented in a way enabling them to be easily broken down between England, Wales and Scotland as the 1986 Act is administered by the Home Office for the whole of Great Britain (it is administered separately in Northern Ireland). However a special exercise has been undertaken to extract the information requested in relation to Scotland.
	During 2006 there were 127,253 genetically modified animals and 11,643 animals with a harmful genetic defect used in regulated procedures conducted in Scotland under the 1986 Act.

Police Custody: Wales

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  on how many days police custody suites in  (a) Wales,  (b) Dyfed-Powys police area and  (c) Pembrokeshire have been used to accommodate prisoners in 2007;
	(2)  how many prisoners have been accommodated in police custody suites in  (a) Wales,  (b) Dyfed-Powys police area and  (c) Pembrokeshire in 2007;
	(3)  how many cells in police custody units in  (a) Wales,  (b) Dyfed-Powys police area and  (c) Pembrokeshire are reserved for prisoners.  [Official Report, 20 February 2008, Vol. 472, c. 7MC.]

David Hanson: The number of places provided by police forces for Operation Safeguard use may vary according to operational pressures. On 16 November 2007 there were 38 places available for Operation Safeguard use in Wales. No places were available in Dyfed Powys police force area or in Pembrokeshire.
	The following table shows the number of nights between 22 January and 20 November 2007 that police cells were used in Wales, by Dyfed Powys police force and in Pembrokeshire for Operation Safeguard, and the number of occasions prisoners were held; one occasion means one prisoner night in a police cell.
	
		
			   Nights  Occasions 
			 Wales 231 4,182 
			 Dyfed Powys 125 615 
			 Pembrokeshire 80 332

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for how many of the additional 1,500 prison places announced on 19th June 2007 funding have been secured; and where these funded places will be.

David Hanson: Funding has been confirmed for the first 500 of the additional 1,500 places announced in June this year. These places will be provided in existing adult male prisons. The current locations are:
	Erlestoke, Wiltshire
	Ranby, Nottinghamshire
	Blundeston, Suffolk
	Kirklevington Grange, Cleveland
	Isle of Wight
	Wymott, Lancashire
	Ashwell, Rutland
	Highpoint, Suffolk
	Decisions on the remaining 1,000 places will be made after Lord Carter has completed his review on the supply and demand of prison places.

Residence Orders

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many residence orders were made in respect of  (a) men and  (b) women in 2006.

Maria Eagle: 33000 residence orders were given in 2006. Data to enable this figure to be separated between those granted to men and those granted to women is not recorded centrally.
	Information to enable the gender of the successful party to be identified can be gathered only by reviewing court files or, for the county courts by reviewing the text of every individual order made and recorded on the court's IT system. This would incur a disproportionate cost.

Road Traffic Offences: Fixed Penalties

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of (a) fixed penalty notices and (b) penalty charge notices for motoring offences were paid in full within the 28 day deadline in each year since 1999.

Maria Eagle: Available information from 1999 to 2005 (latest available) is provided in the following tables. 2006 data will be available next year.
	Information contained in Table A relates to the number of motoring offences fixed penalty notices issued by result. Data are collected on the disposal (i.e. paid, fine registration certificate issued etc).
	Data within Table B relates to penalty charge notices issued by result under the decriminalised parking enforcement scheme.
	
		
			  Table A: Number and percentage of fixed penalty notices issued for motoring offences by resul( 1) , England and Wales, 1999 to 2005 
			  Number (thousand) and percentage 
			Total notices dealt with  Paid within 28 days  Payment accepted after 28 days  Sub-total paid  No further action taken  Fine registration certificate issued( 2)  Referred for court proceedings 
			 1999(3) Number 3,089,000 1,730,700 696,300 2,427,000 235,500 406,900 19,600 
			  Percentage 100 56 23 79 8 13 0.6 
			  
			 2000(3) Number 2,984,300 1,718,600 672,000 2,390,600 208,000 370,800 14,900 
			   Percentage  100  58  23  80  7  12  0.5 
			  
			 2001(3) Number 2,897,200 1,692,500 673,400 2,365,800 147,600 369,300 14,500 
			   Percentage  100  58  23  82  5  13  0.5 
			  
			 2002 Number 2,865,800 1,833,300 582,300 2,415,600 115,800 322,000 12,500 
			   Percentage  100  64  20  85  4  11  0.4 
			  
			 2003 Number 3,506,000 2,335,700 714,900 3,050,600 98,300 345,700 11,400 
			   Percentage  100  67  20  87  3  10  0.3 
			  
			 2004 Number 3,377,100 2,303,400 665,500 2,968,900 95,000 301,000 12,200 
			   Percentage  100  68  20  88  3  9  0.4 
			  
			  2005( 4)  Percentage  100  72  18  90  2  7  0.7 
			 (1) Endorsable and non-endorsable notices combined. (2) Includes outcomes not finalised. (3) Revised since original publication following amendments received from Essex police force area. (4) The analysis of results of fixed penalty notices paid is not yet complete for 2005. The national percentages shown are estimates.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Number and percentage of penalty charge notices by result, England and Wales( 1) , 1999 to 2005 
			  Number (thousand) and percentage 
			Total notices( 2)  dealt with  Paid within 14 days  Paid after 14 days but before service of charge certificate  Paid after charge certificate served  Sub total paid  Cases going for adjudication  Number of certificates registered  No further( 3)  action taken 
			 1999 Number 3,327,700 1,575,200 421,800 9,600 2,006,600 40,400 563,600 717,100 
			   Percentage  100  47  13  0.3  60  1  17  22 
			   
			 2000 Number 3,512,900 1,753,200 446,300 26,800 2,226,200 35,200 617,800 633,500 
			   Percentage  100  50  13  1  63  1  18  18 
			   
			 2001 Number 4,844,200 2,386,200 579,200 130,100 3,095,600 34,900 938,700 775,000 
			   Percentage  100  49  12  3  64  1  19  16 
			   
			 2002 Number 6,296,300 2,792,800 731,500 180,700 3,705,000 69,200 1,213,400 1,308,700 
			   Percentage  100  44  12  3  59  1  19  21 
			   
			 2003 Number 6,745,500 3,255,800 820,900 220,200 4,296,900 53,300 1,033,800 1,361,500 
			   Percentage  100  48  12  3  64  1  15  20 
			   
			 2004 Number 7,340,800 3,676,300 1,086,900 195,200 4,958,300 64,500 1,048,300 1,269,700 
			   Percentage  100  50  15  3  68  1  14  17 
			   
			 2005 Number 6,967,600 3,717,500 823,000 265,100 4,805,700 53,300 1,027,800 1,080,700 
			   Percentage  100  53  12  4  69  1  15  16 
			 (1) The first Welsh local authority joined the decriminalised parking scheme in 2004. (2) Each yearly figure excludes notices issued during the period that were still being processed and includes notices issued in a previous period but recorded as payment in a later year. (3) Where the PCN is written off, for example, the motorist cannot be traced or the PCN is cancelled due to procedural error or successful representation.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by local authorities. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Avian Influenza: Disease Control

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of the recommendations contained in the Lessons Learned Report published following the outbreak of avian influenza last February have been implemented in full; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 19 November 2007
	The Lessons Learned report was published on 11 October and copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses. The recommendations in the report have all been accepted and have already been adopted in our response to the current foot and mouth disease, bluetongue and avian influenza outbreaks.
	Further to the debate in the House on 13 November, the right hon. Gentleman is being sent a full breakdown of our response to each recommendation. Copies of this letter will also be made available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Brixham Fish Quay

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated rebuilding costs of Brixham Fish Quay are; when the rebuilding will be  (a) started and  (b) completed; how much EU funding under Objective II the scheme has received; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 27 November 2007
	In February 2007, the Marine and Fisheries Agency agreed to commit £2 million towards the renovation of Brixham Fish Market. Subsequently, we agreed that work on the project could begin in May 2007 and, exceptionally due to the importance of the project, that the project would be completed by October 2008, which is later than the formal Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance timetable.
	The Objective 2 programme is contributing £2 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) towards the cost of the wider Brixham regeneration scheme. This includes access to the fish quay and the provision of workspace for marine and fish related businesses, but not to the fish quay itself.

Energy: Plastic

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to promote the generation of energy from refuse plastic fuel.

Phil Woolas: The Secretary of State is taking a number of steps to stimulate markets for SRF. Budget 2007 announced that the Government would review the classes of equipment that qualified for enhanced capital allowances (EGAs) for 'good quality' combined heat and power (CHP) schemes to ensure that all the equipment necessary for CHP schemes to utilise SRF was included. The review of the equipment list is now complete and an order will be laid before Parliament shortly revising the energy technology criteria list within the CHP scheme arrangements. Further information will be available shortly from the EGA programme or HM Revenue and Customs websites.
	DEFRA is also working with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on proposals contained in its recent consultation, reform of the renewables obligation. If implemented, these could stimulate the co-firing of SRF with coal or biomass.
	In 2006, DEFRA organised a workshop to draw to the attention of industrial intensive energy users the potential for SRF as an alternative energy feedstock to gas. A number of procurements for waste treatment and disposal infrastructure are now considering producing SRF, some of which could be used as an industrial fuel.

Fisheries: Databases

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what targets he has set on the average time to enter fisheries data on to the fisheries database; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average time taken to enter fisheries data on to the fisheries database was in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) has a performance target of ensuring 90 per cent. of the information received on catches and fishing activity is entered onto the fisheries database within five working days of receipt of all necessary information.
	This target relates to data on the activity of vessels above 10 metres in length. These account for the majority of the fishing effort and catch in the areas that fall under the MFA's responsibility.
	Delays in the entry of data are recorded in terms of the time taken from the date of receipt of the information required to the date that the information is entered onto the fisheries database:
	
		
			  2003 2004 2005 2006 
			  Data relating to vessels of 10 metres and over 
			 Average delay (days) 4.7 2.2 2.0 2.9 
			 Percentage of data entered within five working days of receipt 79 93 95 90 
			  
			  Other data 
			 Average delay (days) 3.4 1.9 3.4 11.3 
		
	
	The performance with regards to other data (primarily related to data received from sales notes related to activity by small vessels of 10 metres and under) has been affected by the introduction of the requirement for registration of buyers and sellers of fish from September 2005. This has led to a significant increase in the volume of such data being received for processing by the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) during 2006. New procedures have been introduced and resources within the MFA have been reallocated to help deal with this increased workload while ensuring that the key performance target continues to be met.

Fishing Catches

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to reduce North Sea fish discards; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 26 November 2007
	In line with the latest scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the UK is proposing a modest increase of 15 per cent. in the North sea cod total allowable catch (TAG) for 2008. We believe this will reduce the scale of discarding, while the days at sea limitations under the EU's cod recovery plan will ensure that there is no additional targeting of the stock.
	At the same time, the Government are developing with the UK industry a series of alternative measures designed to reduce fishing mortality. These include the piloting of a real-time closure mechanism in Scottish waters, where vessels are required to move grounds if the proportion of smaller fish in the catch exceeds a pre-determined maximum. Additionally, more selective fishing practices, developed in consultation with the fishing industry, are being commercially trialled with a view to more widespread application if successful.

Fishing Vessels

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many 10-metre and under fishing vessels were registered in the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: On 1 November 2007, there were 4,979 10 metre or under fishing vessels registered in the United Kingdom (excluding islands). The data for the years 1997 to 2006 (as at 31 December of each year) are in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 10 metre and under 
			 1997 5,474 
			 1998 5,487 
			 1999 5,409 
			 2000 5,273 
			 2001 5,227 
			 2002 5,287 
			 2003 5,113 
			 2004 5,092 
			 2005 4,834 
			 2006 4,896

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of child benefit recipients' potential vulnerability to identity theft following the loss of their personal records by HM Revenue and Customs; what steps his Department has taken to guard against that risk.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 26 November 2007
	 I refer the hon. Member to the statement given in the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1101-04.
	On 20 November the Chancellor announced a review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the Chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs officials had permission to copy onto a computer disc a full copy of HMRC's data on the payment of child benefits as at 18 October 2007.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 26 November 2007
	There is an ongoing Metropolitan Police Service investigation and an independent review of HMRC's security processes and procedures for data handling led by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his oral statement of 20 November 2007, whether the same HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) official provided the National Audit Office with a full copy of HMRC's data in relation to the payment of child benefit in  (a) March 2007 and  (b) October 2007.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 26 November 2007
	There is an ongoing Metropolitan Police Service investigation and an independent review of HMRC's security processes and procedures for data handling led by Kieran Poynter, the chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The full terms of reference for that review are available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_133_07.cfm
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Migrant Workers: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of inward migration on  (a) economic activity and  (b) the labour market in Peterborough constituency over the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 28 November 2007:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on economic activity and the labour market in the Peterborough parliamentary constituency. (168765)
	Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the main summary indicator of economic activity in the UK. Because data collection, estimation and reporting are not structured according to demographic groups, the national accounts framework does not however make it possible to identify the direct contribution of immigrants to the measured levels of economic activity.
	The Office for National Statistics compiles statistics for labour supply indicators for local areas from the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	The data for analysing migrant workers comes from the above surveys. The National Statistics method for estimating the number of migrant workers employed in the UK is routinely based on the number of people at a given time who were born abroad, are of working age (16-64 for men, 16-59 for women), and in employment. This question has been answered on this basis. It means, for example, that some people who are UK nationals will be included in the total of "foreign born" and that people who are working but are above state pension age are not included.
	When interpreting these figures, it is important also to bear in mind that the LFS and APS are not designed to cover everyone who is present in the UK. The survey may undercount the numbers of people who were born overseas. The reasons are set out in the table footnote.
	The annual LFS and APS estimates at this detailed level are only available consistent with the UK population estimates published in February and March 2003 and are not comparable with the estimates published in the Labour Market Statistics First Release on 14 November 2007, which are based on latest population estimates.
	The table attached, shows fie numbers of employed, unemployed and economically active persons of working age who were not born in the UK and were resident in Peterborough constituency, for the twelve month periods ending in February for 2001 to 2004 from the annual LFS, and for the twelve month periods ending in March 2005, March 2006 and December 2006 from the APS (the January to December 2006 APS dataset is the most recent for which information on country of birth is currently available). The table also shows the numbers of non-UK born economically active persons as percentages of all economically active persons of working age, in the area. Data on country of birth are not available on annual LFS datasets before 2000.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in small geographical areas, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. Estimates of change over time should be treated with particular caution.
	
		
			  Economic activity status of working age( 1)  non-UK born people in the Peterborough constituency 
			   Thousands  
			  12  m onths ending  Employment level  Unemployment level  Economically active  Non-UK born economically actives as percentage of all economically actives (Percentage) 
			 February 2001 4 * 4 10 
			 February 2002 5 — 5 11 
			 February 2003 5 * 5 11 
			 February 2004 6 — 6 13 
			 March 2005 7 * 7 16 
			 March 2006 6 1 7 17 
			 December 2006 10 1 11 25 
			 (1) Includes males aged 16-64 and females aged 16-59 * Sample size too small to provide estimate. — Estimate less than 500  Notes: Estimates are subject to sampling variability. It should also be noted that the country of birth question in the LFS gives an undercount because: it excludes certain people who have not been resident in the UK for six months. it excludes students in halls who do not have a UK resident parent. it excludes people in most other types of communal establishments (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites, etc). it is grossed to population estimates which exclude migrants staying for less than 12 months. microdata are grossed to population estimates consistent with those published in spring 2003 which are significantly lower than the latest population estimates.  Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population survey.

General Practitioners: NHS Direct

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of NHS Direct on demand for GP out-of-hours services in those areas where NHS Direct  (a) is and  (b) is not integrated with GP out-of-hours services; with how many GP out-of-hours providers NHS Direct is integrated; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Out of hours services are commissioned by primary care trusts and do not form part of the national services commissioned by the Department from NHS Direct. Further information may be available from the Chairman of NHS Direct NHS Trust.

Hip Replacement: Waiting Lists

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for hip replacement operations in  (a) Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust and  (b) London NHS trusts.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Count of finished admission episodes (FAE) and mean and median time waited for hip replacements where strategic health authority was London by provider data for NHS hospitals England for 2005-06 
			  Provider code  Provider code description  Total admission episodes  Median time waited 
			 NTS 14 BUPA Roding Hospital 27 (1)— 
			 RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 170 168 
			 RAN Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust 475 92 
			 RAP North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 124 191 
			 RAS The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 220 134 
			 RAX Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 173 12 
			 RC3 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 118 54 
			 RF4 Barking, Havering And Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 644 166 
			 RFW West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 100 (1)— 
			 RG2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 272 181 
			 RG3TC Orpington Treatment Centre 223 122 
			 RG3-X Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 328 193 
			 RGC Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 247 179 
			 RGZ Oueen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 264 167 
			 RJ1 Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust 348 153 
			 RJ2 The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 189 (1)— 
			 RJ5 St Mary's NHS Trust 73 173 
			 RJ6 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust 124 118 
			 RJ7 St George's Healthcare NHS Trust 171 145 
			 RJZ King's College Hospital NHS Trust 217 159 
			 RKE The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 132 149 
			 RNH Newham University Hospital NHS Trust 103 140 
			 RNJ Barts and the London NHS Trust 220 139 
			 ROM Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust 250 85 
			 RON Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 493 135 
			 RQX Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 43 79 
			 RRV University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 224 123 
			 RV8 North west London Hospitals NHS Trust 338 127 
			 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 461 172 
			 RVRTC South west London Elective Orthopaedic Centre 985 165 
			 RVR-X Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 236 15 
			 (1) There was no time waited data available. This may be due to poor recording of the admission date and/or decision to admit date.  Note: FAE A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Data Quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. Whilst this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Main Operation The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. time waited, but the figures for 'all operations' count of episodes give a more complete count of episodes with an operation. OPCS 4.2 codes used: W37,W38,W39,W46,W47,W48  Time Waited (days) Time waited statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.  Source: (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reason his Department proposes to decrease the number of sub-categories within the classification system for Part IX of the drug tariff; what account was taken of the balance of responses to the Department's recent consultation on the subject; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the cost of the two year consultation relating to Part IX of the Drug Tariff was; and what the cost was of Deloitte and Touche's fees for work on the consultation.

Ben Bradshaw: The current listing of stoma and incontinence appliances in part IX of the Drug Tariff is very broad.
	The November 2006 consultation set out proposals which classified the 5,000 plus stoma and incontinence items into 288 sub-categories of appliances deemed by healthcare professionals to meet similar medical need.
	Responses were reviewed by representatives from the original group of healthcare professionals and a wider group. This allowed two groups of specialists to be set up: one to review urology items and one to review stoma. As part of the review process, the panels again considered whether items met similar medical need—and product features such as size and material.
	Based on the recommendations from these healthcare professionals, the Department now proposes that there should be 228 sub-categories of items as opposed to the 288 that were consulted on in November 2006.
	The cost of the review is part of the Department's ongoing operational budget. Deloitte are acting as advisors to the Department on this review. The contract between the Department and its adviser is and ongoing arrangement set up within the parameters of public sector procurement and is commercial in confidence.

Maidstone Hospital: Clostridium

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of the relevant strategic health authority in relation to each outbreak of  clostridium difficile at Maidstone hospital.

Ann Keen: holding answer 27 November 2007
	The Healthcare Commission report of their Investigation into outbreaks of  clostridium difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust included an assessment of the role of the south east cost strategic health authority (SHA). It included no specific recommendations for the SHA.

Midwives: Pay

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on midwives' salaries.

Ann Keen: holding answer 26 November 2007
	 The Government have now submitted its evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body for the pay uplift from April 2008. This review body covers all Agenda for Change staff including midwives. It is for the review body to now consider all the issues including evidence from the unions before making their recommendations. It is not appropriate to speculate at this time what they may recommend.
	Our recommendations (2 per cent. rise in headline pay for staff) are in line with the Government's public sector pay policy to ensure economic stability. We are seeking a fair award reflecting the balance between the right level of pay and the need to be vigilant against the threats of inflation.

Nurses: Urological Cancers

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to change the provision of specialist nursing staff in the field of urological cancers; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many urological cancer clinical nurse specialists were employed in each acute NHS trust in the East of England in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: holding answer 27 November 2007
	Data on the number of urological cancer clinical nurse specialists is not collected centrally. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has identified clinical nurse specialists as core members of the urology multidisciplinary team in their "Improving Outcomes in Urological Cancers" guidance issued in 2002. It is for cancer networks to work in partnership with strategic health authorities, NHS trusts and postgraduate deaneries to put in place a sustainable process to assess, plan and review their workforce needs and the education and training of all staff linked to local and national priorities for cancer including the implementation of NICE improving outcomes guidance.